11/29/2010
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


I felt like we dodged a bullet when rained Saturday night and cleared Sunday morning. With the weather front moving east we had a chance for a nice day on Monday and I almost always look forward to Monday rides. When I got dressed this morning I realized it was a good looking day but it was going to be cold.

When I pulled into the parking lot Dura-max, Sea Lion and Wolf were standing out behind Sea Lion’s car looking like three reptiles waiting for the sun to warm them up enough to move. We moved over by the windows at Burger King and tried to absorb as much vitamin D as we could as Rocket, Cossack and Highlander pulled up. Raptor and Attack Cat completed the group and we left the parking lot right at 8:30. Just as we got started Casey Jones joined the group and made it to the first light with us.


10 riders for such a cold morning isn’t a bad number and what seems cold to us wouldn’t necessarily be all that cold being in the mid 40s to someone living in the mountains or Helena Montana last night were it was 2 degrees. I was thinking that I just might have to start looking for some warmer cycling cloths. I had on a base layer and two jerseys plus toe covers and thick socks and still was just a bit cold. Most everyone else was dressed pretty much the same except Dura-max, Raptor and Highlander who had an added vest or jacket.

We made it easily down Kirby with only the slightest hint of wind and lots of sun. Still it was less than 50 degrees as we turned onto Cypress and headed towards Johnson. The streets seemed a bit quieter than normal which is just fine with us. While we might have been cold everyone seemed in a good mood and we stayed together as we turned onto Johnson and then Sanderson before making the left towards the airport. Soon we found ourselves going passed the airport and back out onto Stetson.

The group formed a pace line and we headed down Stetson towards Warren in one long line. We crossed warren together and then more or less cruised towards California. Well we cruised except for Casey Jones who took off on his own. No one seemed interested in giving chase at this point and I managed to pull to California and then to Stowe before making the turn towards Winchester. Rocket, Cossack, and Attack Cat took off on a mini run and the rest of us followed them to the parking lot on Stowe and Winchester.

Once we regrouped we turned down Winchester and headed for the dump road where somehow we picked Casey Jones up again. I have to admit I didn’t see him as we were riding on Winchester but looking back after we turned onto the dump road I noticed him pulling through the pack as we rode towards Leon.

We broke into two groups before we got to Leon with Wolf, Cossack, Rocket, and Attack Cat in one group and Dura-max, Highlander, Sea Lion and I were following. Raptor left us on Winchester but we saw him coming back on Leon as we got to Simpson. Highlander left us at Simpson and we lost Casey Jones before we got to Lindenburger. We regrouped at Domenigoni and the group split once again as we went over the saddle. Wolf, Sea Lion, Dura-max and I stayed together over the saddle and watched the others pull away as we approached Leon again.

I had to apologize to the group as we got close to Winchester again. I had thought because the wind was more or less in our face on Simpson it just might be at our back when we got to Domenigoni and started back east. But it wasn’t to be because we had to fight a head wind all the way to Winchester and most of the way back to Warren Road. We took turns pulling to ease the strain a bit but it was still just one more day of fighting the wind both ways out on Domenigoni.

We met up with Attack Cat as we turned onto Chambers and we all rode together up to Stetson and then to Columbia and finally back to Lake before coming back up onto Stetson and over to Fairview. We ended up meeting Casey Jones at Carl’s and after a brief stop for refreshments we rode back towards Burger King together. Dura-max left us at Park and Wolf, Casey Jones and I got back to the west side about 20 minutes later. It was a good ride even if it was cold and I managed to get in another 38 miles. Not bad for a cool winter’s day I think.

11/26/2010
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)

I looked outside this morning and it was clear and the sun was out with that beautiful Robin’s egg blue. I walked out to get the paper and I discovered it was also pretty cold. I looked at the thermometer when I got back inside and it was 34 degrees at my house. I knew it was supposed to warm up today and I also knew I would be out long enough that we should still be riding when it did. All I had to do was dress just heavy enough for the start of the ride but not too heavy for the end.

I knew I had a lot of thanksgiving to work off so I had a longer ride planned for today. I was pleased to see Dura-max and Ocelot waiting for me as I got to Burger King. Double Time, Gambler and Metric Man pulled up and started unloading their bikes and Cossack, Shock wave and Double Shot pulled up just before we were ready to leave. It was 8:30 so we took off down Gilmore then over to Kirby and finally turned onto Cypress.


After we turned onto Sanderson I knew it was going to be all I could do just to hang on because my legs were tight and sore. It was another one of those days when I had the lungs but not the legs. After we made it to Domenigoni and started west the group broke in two and I found myself in the middle of the group with Cossack, Double Shot, Shock Wave, Gambler and Metric Man. I even managed to take a pull just before we started up the saddle and Metric Man waited for me as we rode together over the hill and down to Lindenburger.
We lost Double Shot and Gambler at Simpson and waited till Dura-max and his group caught up on Heritage. We slowed things down a bit till we got to McCall and made the turn towards Menifee. We stayed together as we turned North on Menifee and made one last quick stop at the Arco station before getting back on Menifee and heading for Nuevo.

We lost Metric Man at Nuevo so the rest of us turned towards Evans and then up to Ramona before coming back to the Lake entrance road. The wind started to pick up a bit but we didn’t notice it all that much as we headed for the Dam at Lake Parris. Once up the hill we turned towards the Marina and took another break for some hot coffee. Dura-max Ocelot and Double time left first so that Cossack, Shock wave and I could give chase around the lake. We caught them just before getting to the back gate of the Lake and headed home on Ramona. Now the wind hit us right in the face and fought us every inch of the way back to Warren where Ocelot picked up a bolt and flatted. She didn’t take long to fix the flat once we got a good tube for her and we were back on the road in less than 15 minutes. We rode back into town and split up at Latham and went our separate ways home. I got home with 53 miles on the computer and legs like stuffed sausage skins but it was a good day for a ride. It was a good day to be with friends and a beautiful day to be in Southern California.

Mission Improbable

11/24/2010
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


Special Edition: Mission Improbable!

I was resting peacefully in my safe house located somewhere is the remote town of Hemet when I heard the low growl come from the throat of my attack Rat Terrier letting me know there was a disturbance on my front sidewalk. I got up and walked outside to see what the problem might be. I watched as a cat walked by slowly as if watching my every move as I walked out to pick up the morning paper. It looked innocent enough but I have been with the agency long enough to know the cat just might be a spy checking up on me. My paper was wrapped in a plastic bag and I found the note from the agency director. The note read as follows:


“Mr. Kent the director wants you to know that Mr. Big has assigned Boris and Natasha the task of makes a bike ride almost impossible for today. They have access to a weather machine that will make it cold and damp with winds that will cycle around and hit any riders directly in the face with a piercing cold that will cut to the bone. The director wants you to assemble a team to make a short ride west crossing the Domenigoni Saddle twice before stopping at the Hemet Airport. If you accept the assignment you will get a hot cup of coffee to prove that the evil empire can’t stop us from riding with a weather machine. As always if you fail the director will toss you under the bus and call you a failure.”

My choice of a team was small, two fast attack riders, Rocket and Cossack, a strong man. Sea Lion, a navigator, Dura-max and a planner, myself. We left the meeting place and headed down Gilmore before turning right on Acacia and then left on Kirby before coming to Cypress. We were dressed more for the Iditarod that a bike ride but that was part of the plan. We spread out to make ourselves a more difficult target when Boris started the cold wind machine.

As we got to the end of Cypress Cossack received information that the evil wind machine Boris was using would be coming straight at us on Sanderson. There was also a good chance that Natasha would hit us with a cold blast when we made the turn onto Domenigoni. Cossack assured me that he would be able to block some of the wind and cold once we got rolling on Domenigoni. My core was a bit cooler than I like and my legs were just not warming up even with the effort I had to apply just to keep up.

True to the prediction we were hit by the evil empire’s one two punch of cold and wind and we had Rocket and Cossack take the lead as we were pulled down the road towards Winchester. By the slight rise at the river bed Sea Lion, Rocket and Cossack started an attack that caught Natasha off guard and Dura-max and I fell behind. Sea Lion fell back to join us by the time we got to Winchester. We regrouped at the saddle and continued on to Menifee before turning into the face of Boris’s wind machine. As we turned left on Garboni Road Natasha hit us in the side with a heavy shot of cold and we could almost hear the laugh of Mr. Big as he thought he has us beat. Cossack and Rocket pulled away towards Briggs Street and it seemed to pull some of the pressure off of the rest of us

We got back out onto Dominigoni and headed back towards the Saddle where we spread out and Rocket and Cossack took off with the wind to their back. Sea Lion, Dura-max and I regrouped at Leon and made the turn on Winchester together. We took turns pulling first to Simpson and then to Stowe with the dreaded wind machine at our backs before turning east on Stowe only to have the knife cutting wind and cold try to work into our bones.
Rocket and Cossack made a diversionary run for home and the wind and cold was directed at them giving Sea Lion, Dura-max and I a chance to pull into the Airport at Hanger one for coffee. Today the agency had one and mister Big and his minions had failed. We got our ride in and were rewarded with hot coffee and good company. It wasn’t a lot of miles and it wasn’t as fast as we have done before but we could almost hear Natasha crying to Boris, “But Dahlink, they got away and now Meester Beg will not let us be spynicks.” Another ride for the good guys.

11/22/2010
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


After watching the rain Saturday and part of Sunday I wasn’t thinking we were going to get to ride Monday morning. Yes I put together a ride and made sure my base layer cloths were clean and ready but I was expecting rain when I got up to look outside this morning. To my surprise it was relatively clear and maybe even a bit sunny. Then I looked at the thermometer and noticed it was 34 degrees on my porch. It takes me a long time to warm up when it is cold and I consider today a cold day.

I was on my way down the street in at least three layers and two pairs of socks plus my long fingered gloves. I didn’t get two blocks before I knew I was cold and had my doubts if I was going to get a lot warmer. As I pulled up to the warmest place in town, the Burger King Window front, Dura-max, Ocelot and Wolf were waiting for me. D’Artagnon, Rocket and Cossack pulled up next with Gary and Attack cat not far behind. We decided to add the Marina to our ride to Cactus Valley and pulled out onto Gilmore right at 8:30am. It is a quick trip to Acacia then Kirby but my legs were a lot tighter than they had been all week.

I knew pretty early I wasn’t going to be pushing much today, in fact I was pretty sure it would be all I could do just to hang on. I figure, Cossack, D’Artagnon and Rocket would push the pace down Sanderson and then run us hard to the Marina hill. But they didn’t push all that hard and Attack Cat and Gary took us to down Sanderson and then east on Domenigoni. But we all knew getting to the hill was the easy part. Staying with Rocket and Cossack climbing the hill was another story.

I did reasonable well on the first part of the hill first following Attack Cat only have Rocket roll by followed by Cossack who took the lead before the big left. D’Artagnon passed me at the turn and then passed Attack cat and gave chase followed shortly by Gary. I simply couldn’t pick up the pace so I tried to just pick a gear and spin my way to the top. Wolf was gaining on me as I made the last right turn and I managed to get to the turnaround just before he caught me. We headed back down to see Dura-max and Ocelot on their way up. Turns out Dura-max was having problems with his derailleur and kept tossing his chain. We got to the bottom of the hill and regrouped before taking off for Cactus Valley.

Rocket, Cossack, Wolf and D’Artagnon took off in the lead and Gary, Attack cat and I gave chase. We started to close a bit as we got to Newport only to have an 18 wheeler break us up by pulling into our lane and almost shoving Gary and I off of the road. Without our little pace line we started to fall back on the lead group and rounded the corner onto Cactus Valley Road about 150 yards behind. We regrouped after reaching the end of the pavement and waited for a few minutes to see if Ocelot and Dura-max were behind us. It turns out Dura-max was still having trouble and it was slowing him down. We decided to start back towards State Street and the McSweeney housing Track.

Rocket and Cossack had to leave as we got back to Chambers so D’Artagnon, Attack cat, Gary. Wolf and I continued on to Fairview and then up to Wilson Mesa. We waited as we saw Dura-max and Ocelot coming up as we came back out of the housing track and then had to chase them as they ran back down Fairview towards Florida. D’Artagnon took the lead by Stetson and pulled us back to the bridge before the elementary school. By the time I caught up to him and Attack cat I was pretty tired and Attack cat pulled passed and pulled to Florida. I knew the run down Florida was coming but I didn’t think I could push it all the way to Carl’s. I planned on sitting back and watching when the final sprint happened.

I was in luck because as my legs rested on the downhill back to Carl’s the lead group was only about 30 yards ahead of me and they caught the red light at Ramona. As they slowed I laid into it and was coming up to the light at better than 19 when it turned green and Attack cat was just getting back up onto the bike. I flew passed him only to hear a loud pop and see his tire go flat. Looking at his tire after he got to Carl’s reminded me of black worm tracks under the tread. I don’t know when I have seen a tire separate from the case like his did.

A quick cup of coffee and we were headed for home. Yes it was cold and a hot shower felt great when I got home. No my legs never got lose but still it was a good ride and we had a good day. Any day outside on the bike has got to beat a day inside just sitting and watching TV. Add a few good friends and you have the ingredients for a great time.

11/19/2010
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


Looking outside today it was easy to see it was a cold, damp, overcast day. The only good thing I could see about it was it wasn’t raining and it wasn’t windy so we had a chance to get in a ride before the front reached us later in the day. What I didn’t know was that the ride would be a bit like one of the old Clint Eastwood movies, the good, the bad and the ugly but in reverse.

I got to Burger King to see Dura-max and Ocelot resting against the wall. Rocket, Gambler, D’Artagnon and Bandit pulled up followed by a new rider, Dave, and Double Time. Huntress, Buccaneer, Sea Lion and Raptor joined us as it was getting close to time to leave. There were 11 riders behind me as we pulled out onto Gilmore and headed down towards Acacia before going west to Kirby.


Double time seemed to be full of energy as he pulled us most of the way down Kirby to Cypress before we turned and headed towards Johnson. But while we all seemed to be rolling along at a pretty good pace it wasn’t getting any warmer. I was dressed with a full middle weight base layer and heavier socks with long fingered gloves but I still thought it might have been a day where a hood or Balaclava might have been more comfortable.

Once Double time pulled over to let me pass I realized he had been blocking some of the cold and I was even happier that I had worn my heavier gloves. But the ugly part of the ride was just starting. Not only was it cold for our area it started to get just a bit wet. Once on Cypress Street the bicycle tires started to pick up a bit of water and everyone started to get a stripe down their back. Just a bit of grumbling had started but no one suggested we turn back.
As we turned onto Sanderson it looked like there might be a little clearing to the south and the pavement even seemed a bit dryer as we got close to the high school. We made the light at Mustang and everyone was still in one big group. As we turned onto Domenigoni the Good part started for me. We got in a pace line and headed west with ever so slight of a breeze to our back. As we rotated through the lead we easily started averaging 22 the 23 then 24 MPH and because no one stayed out front too long it seemed pretty easy to me. We crossed the rise after Warren and we were doing an average of 25 with ever lead change. By Winchester the lead group is doing 25 or 26 and we are getting close to 27. I was in a good position by Leon and feeling like I had plenty left for the Saddle sprint. Just before we got to the bottom of the hill I noticed it felt a bit bumpy and I pulled out of line only to discover I had a flat. The group dropped me like birds flying south for the winter. All I could do was pull my back wheel and start the repair. Things had gone from good to bad. A few riders passed and asked if I was ok and Huntress, Sea Lion and Double time stopped while I fixed the tire. Finally Attack Cat passed by after getting a late start and Dura-max and Ocelot checked to make sure I had what I needed to get back on the road.

Huntress, Sea Lion and Double Time worked our way over the saddle and rode together all the way to McCall and over the hill to Simpson. We didn’t see anyone at Chris’s so I called Dura-max and told him we would be stopping at Hanger One for coffee. As we sat there we were joined by Dura-max and Ocelot for a little while before heading for home. So yes the ride started out ugly, cold, wet, and over cast and ended not as cold or wet but still overcast. We got back to Acacia and headed back towards Burger King. The flat slowed me down a bit but getting to ride with the few friends made up for it. A few quick miles and practice at changing a tire are all in a day’s ride, for a cyclist.

11/17/2010
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)



They predicted a nice day and for a change they were correct. I went outside and noticed a pretty clear blue sky and a slight coolness in the air. The day looked just perfect for a ride east with three little climbs in it. I got dressed, read the paper, had my coffee and was on the road by 8am.

There were a few people waiting as I pulled up and we all stood around as other arrived. I wasn’t sure who was going to be in what group but it looked like we would be starting with 17 riders as we left the parking lot and headed down Gilmore to Acacia.


The whole group stayed together as we turned toward Kirby and Raptor must have already been warmed up as the lead us all the way to Cypress before we made the turn towards Johnson. The housing track was pretty quiet this morning with very few cars and only one lady standing outside asking if we had seen her lost dog.

Raptor kept the lead and we followed him all the way to Sanderson and then onto Wentworth and finally back onto Stetson heading towards California Street. Once passed warren road the pace picked up slightly and Surgeon and I took turn leading till we made the turn South on California. Surgeon got us started on Stowe and we started to create a slight gap between the A and B group. When Centaur, Rocket and Gambler start to line up behind you sooner or later someone will drop the hammer and today was no different.

As the pace line developed I found myself at the back of the line behind Centaur, Rocket, Gambler, Surgeon, Attack cat and. D’Artagnon, Jennifer, Wolf and Puma were right behind me. Dura-max had Sea Lion, Beowulf, T-3, Raptor and Ocelot with him about 30 yards back with Snow Goose trailing the whole group. It would be Snow Goose’s last ride with us for a while because she was heading back east for home the next day.

We did a quick regroup on the corner of Stowe and Winchester before heading south on Winchester to get to Domenigoni. As we moved down Winchester the two groups started to separate even more. Ten of us took off on Domenigoni heading east to get ready to attack the Marina hill. Everyone rotated through the line at least twice before we got back to Sanderson and Domenigoni. Puma took the last pull and got us all to the turn at the marina entrance. I was tired and a bit congested but I wanted to attack the hill. I was doing pretty good till I hit that first hard 180 left and I started sucking air like a clogged vacuum cleaner. I geared down and just tried to spin the rest of the way to the top. On the way back down I met Huntress who got a late start and had to catch us by taking the reverse course from the east end of town. We regrouped at the bottom of the hill and discovered that we were now 11 strong. Dura-max, Ocelot, T-3, Beowulf and Sea Lion were still on the hill as Raptor went by us on the way back to Domenigoni. We decided to give chase and followed after him.

We were moving in a pace line once again as we headed down State Street and made short work of that portion of the ride. Once back onto Stetson Attack cat pulled in front but he seemed to be in a bit of a hurry and missed the turn on Girard as we headed up towards Ramona Bowl. Once up that deceptive hill I noticed we were missing Jennifer but others told me she had broken off for home or work so I didn’t worry about her. We lost Rocket on Crest; I believe Gambler left us at lake. Surgeon broke off at Florida and Fairview and those of us that were left rode up to Cranston Station for one last break before heading back to Carl’s.

The ride back down to Carl’s was smooth and pretty quick. We took turns pulling and everyone seemed comfortable with the pace as we got back to Fairview. Huntress pulled us back to Ramona where we got into one last Sprint. I got a reasonable jump but not enough to hold off anyone in the draft when I notice Attack cat pulling out to go around me. I thought I could hold of some of the riders behind me but it didn’t look like I would hold off everyone. Still what I didn’t expect was that Puma would fire the after burners and blast past everyone to get to Carl’s first. We took a break and waited for Dura-max and his group. Sea Lion, Beowulf and Ocelot pulled up and told us that T-3 decided to do Bautista. Raptor didn’t stop and must have gone home so we talked a bit and headed for home with 8 riders.

I will admit I was tired after today’s ride. My lungs seemed congested and my legs were sore but it still felt like a great ride. With just over 44 miles on the computer I knew it was a good workout but what made the ride great was the people I rode with. Yes I know we are more of a social group than a hard core group but that just may be why I like the people I ride with. We care about riding but we also care about the people we ride with.

11/15/2010
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)



I was up a bit early this morning and casually had a cup of coffee as I skimmed the paper and watched some news on TV. It was a beautiful day with a clear blue sky so I was pretty sure we were going to have a great day for a ride. It was arm and leg warmer weather for the first part of the morning but that doesn’t bother me at all.

Dura-max and Wart were talking with the Wolf as I pulled up. So I knew at least someone had read the e-mail changing the start time. Rocket, Tax Man and Snow Goose arrived next as we waited for others to arrive. Surgeon, Cossack and Hit man joined the group and Puma pulled into the parking lot just before 8:30. Beowulf and Raptor were the last to arrive so we took off down Gilmore almost right on time. As we got to the light at Florida and Gilmore we saw Double Time in the turn lane so we pulled over to wait for him to park and catch up with us. Dura-max continued on as B group leader with Snow Goose, Raptor, Tax man and Wart. They got a few minutes head start on us but we started out rather quickly once Double Time was with us.


Once we were on our way down Gilmore and making the turn onto Acacia the B group wasn’t even on our radar screen. We quickly made it to the light on Kirby but we caught it red and once again we couldn’t see even a sign of the B group ahead of us. I got a call from Sherpa that he was about 30 minutes behind us and would try and catch us out on Domenigoni. I had my doubts because I was pretty sure once this group got in a pace line we were going to move rather rapidly towards the Saddle and we wouldn’t be stopping.

We made the light on Sanderson and Stetson and started the run to Domenigoni and as luck would have it we made all the lights green. We took the turn west and the fun began. People started taking turns pulling and slowly but surely we were building up speed. As we got close to Warren Road we noticed the B group ahead of us and that cause the pace to pick up again. Shortly after Double Time took his turn at the front Beowulf took over and kicked things up another notch. By the time we passed Leon the group was starting to shake a bit and we were moving very quickly to the foot of the saddle. As we started up the hill it was like someone pulled the pin on a hand grenade and it was a mass sprint. As we crossed over the top the group was officially split. I was holding onto the tail of the lead group by the skin on my teeth.

I did manage to catch up by drafting Puma as we passed Murrieta and pulled till we got to Goetz but my legs just weren’t with me and I was left in the dust till we started down the back side of the hill. I tried to get a picture as we descended but at 30+ it was less than clear.


Things didn’t get easier for me as we moved over to Murrieta and then McCall. As was a very distant hang on as we topped McCall and has to chase everyone all the way to Winchester. Some of us took a quick stop at Chris’s before continuing on to Stowe and then to California and Stetson. Once we got to the Airport we stopped to see if Surgeon, Wolf and Double Time were still there. Sure enough they were just finishing off some Banana Cream pie and an Apple Fritter. I think they did it just to punish me. We left to ride back towards Burger King together and at least this final portion of the ride was a bit more relaxing.

After getting back to Acacia it was just a short hop back to Gilmore and then we pulled into the parking lot together. I was tired and just a bit sore but it had been a good workout. I have discovered that some of the best rides we have may not be when we are riding our best but they happen when we aren’t at our best but we stick with it anyway.

When I checked the computer at home I discovered I had put in just over 45 miles so I guess I shouldn’t complain about a little soreness in the legs. After all I have a day to recover and a chance to do even better next time.

11/11/2010
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


With the high winds we had on Thursday I didn’t know what to expect when I got up and went out to get the paper this morning. But once outside I realized that as long as things didn’t change much it looked like it was going to be a good day. I would need leg and arm warmers but it looked like it would warm up soon enough. So after my morning coffee I put on my kit and headed out the door ready to ride to Burger King.

I got to the parking lot shortly after Rocket, Dura-max and Sea Lion. While we were talking Cossack, Double Time, Centaur and D’Artagnon pulled up Followed by Beowulf, Gambler, Ruby Tuesday and T-3. We were ready to go when Gambler discovered he had a flat and we waited while he changed it before heading out onto Latham and turning north on Lyon.


It didn’t take much warming up before we started to roll along at a pretty good clip for cruising. We were doing 20+ mph before we passed Cottonwood. I looked back to see how everyone was doing and it was clear that no one was even thinking of falling off this early in the ride. We finally turned onto Ramona heading for State with Rocket in the lead and I was three back following Ruby Tuesday.

It didn’t take us long to make it to State Street and as we moved north towards Soboba the pace picked up0 once more. Everyone knew that once we started east on the rollers of Soboba the group would spread out and I had no reason to expect that today would be different. What I also knew was that Gambler and D’Artagnon would be with the lead group and they would make holding on even more difficult. Still I was looking forward to the run to the golf course and was going to give it a good try.

We stayed together pretty well for the first and smallest of the rollers and started up the second one in line. Suddenly Rocket launched for the front and I went with him. We got a reasonable gap cresting the hill when Rocket started pulling away from me and Cossack caught and passed me on the way to tagging up on Rocket. Centaur was the next one to get buy and D’Artagnon caught me well before the beginning of the golf course. We all re-grouped at the top of the hill next to the golf course and then took off for Mountain and Main. Another sprint occurred as we got to the bridge and we lost Rocket and Cossack before we got to Hemet Street. D’Artagnon and Gambler and Centaur took off and pulled away towards Florida and the rest of us followed quite a ways behind till we once again re-grouped at the Ranger Station.

The great thing about our group is how much fun we seem to have talking and laughing when we re-group before heading for the last part of the ride. It is fun to watch everyone grow and get stronger week by week. We have been together long enough now that we almost know what the other riders are going to do before the do it. Still there is something more than makes our group different than almost any other group I have belonged to and that is how social we are. We are willing to help each other get better even if we know that the person we are helping will soon be faster and stronger than we are. While I was thinking about this Ruby Tuesday and T-3 decided to leave and head out on their own while the rest of us took off for Carl’s, except for Gambler who stayed to fix another flat.

It was a flat out drag race back down to Carl’s with Double Time pulling out of the pack and making a break for it about a mile and three quarters before we got to Carl’s. It took a while but he was chased down before he got to Fairview and we all pulled into Carl’s about the same time. We got coffee or soft drinks and had a good time talking about the ride and the possibility of riding as a group in Palm Springs this February. Once rested and refreshed we headed for home.

It wasn’t the longest ride we have had or even the fastest but it was a good ride with just over 32 miles from door to door for me. For a week spent dodging wind and rain it at least ended on a great note and a good day. When you think about it we are pretty lucky to be living where we are and having the friends we have.

11/10/2010
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


Monday was a bust because of the sketchy weather. So I was very pleased to see clear skies when I got up this morning. It was a bit cold and there was supposed to be a light wind but still I was looking forward to attacking Juniper Flats.

I got to Burger King early and it looked like I was the first one there. I did see Snow Goose leaving the lot as I got there and Wolf was unloading his bike from his car. I discovered the Raptor, Wart and Dura-Max had already left right at 8:30 so the B group and the fun group had an early start. By 9am everyone was ready to go so we took the whole group out onto Latham heading towards Lyon.


The turn onto Lyon started out pretty easy and we passed one street after another slowly building up speed as we warmed up. Highlander was next to me with T-3 not far behind. Puma, Rocket, D’Artagnon and Centaur were moving up from the back of the pack with Cossack, Cycobob and Wolf somewhere in the middle. It didn’t take long before Puma moved to the front and we were soon rolling along about 20mph. Just as we were getting our pace down pat we heard the dreaded shout, “flat” and watched as Centaur pulled over. We were soon back on our way because we have been getting a lot better fixing flats.

A few minutes later we were ready to turn west towards Sanderson and we quickly got up to speed on Ramona drive. I was pretty sure that once we got out onto the expressway things were going to pick up rather quickly. Huntress and T-3 had been riding strong the last few rides and Rocket, Cossack, Puma and Centaur were going to kick it up sooner or later. I wasn’t even sure I would be able to hold on but I was determined to give it a try.

Just as I expected the pace picked up as we hit the expressway things got quicker. Puma and D’Artagnon started to pull away and I hooked on to their back wheel. The problem was we accelerated a bit too quickly and had dropped the rest of the group. I fell back a bit and tried to pull the group back but didn’t have enough steam. Rocket and Centaur pulled around and closed and soon Cossack joined them. Huntress and Wolf went after them and T-3 and Cycobob soon passed me while I joined Highlander. We made it to Nuevo to regroup and Highlander turned back for home. The rest of the group took off for Juniper Flats as I stumbled along getting into my pedals. It took me almost all the way to the stop sign where we make the left turn to catch the back half of the group. As we got to the bottom of the Juniper climb where Puma passed me and made a run to catch the leaders. I managed to stay within sight of the lead group all the way to the top of the climb with Huntress breathing down my back all the way.

We got separated as I took pictures of the group cresting the hill and had to chase everyone else all the way to the High School on Brigs street. Huntress and Centaur continued on while the rest of the group waited for me. We formed a pace line and managed to pull within sight of Huntress and Centaur but even with our sprint we couldn’t catch them till we got to Winchester. T-3 had to go home but the rest of us stopped at Chris’s for a quick break before heading home.

As soon as we got back out onto Winchester I knew we were going to set a pretty pace heading for home. True to my expectations we made Stowe a lot quicker than normal and the pace didn’t lessen as we headed towards California Street. We turned into the wind as we headed towards Stetson and we were still moving as we split at the airport. I finished the ride with a few of the riders and by the time I ended up at home I had a good 41 miles in. Another great day with great friends.

11/05/2010
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


The weather conditions for our group rides have been close to perfect the last few days. From last Friday through today things have been clear and very little wind. It was my hope that today would be just like the other days and as I looked outside I had a feeling things were going to be just fine.

There wasn’t quite as many riders today as I expected but still we had 10 and I noticed Raptor and Snow Goose were leaving the parking lot just as I got there. We didn’t talk long before it was time to mount up and leave. A quick trip down Gilmore, over to Kirby and turn onto Cypress and we were on our way. Ruby Tuesday and T-3 looked ready to get some road work done.


Up to this point I wasn’t sure if there would be groups or not. After the way T-3 and Sea Lion pushed the group on Wednesday it was just possible that with the addition or Ruby Tuesday we would just have one big pace line all the way to the end of the ride. Still with Rocket, Cossack, D’Artagnon, Hit man and Surgeon in the mix I knew the pace might pick up at any point and I could only hope to stay close if the group did start to split.

We made it through the housing track and out onto Sanderson without any problem and moved passed the Airport without my Heart Rate monitor taking some magic jump to 250 or better. Something at the airport or at most airports that at times seems to mess with my Monitor but not every time I get near one. Once out on Stetson we settled into a pace line that took us all the way to California and Stowe.

Once we made the turn onto Stowe we allowed things to creep up to about 21 MPH but the group held together well. In fact we didn’t need to regroup at Winchester and simply rode down Winchester to Domenigoni were we all got caught at the light. Once we made the turn east on Domenigoni things started to break up a bit. Once Rocket, Cossack, Hit man and D’Artagnon took a turn at pulling we were at 24 and the group broke in two. Dura-max had three other people with him and we had six total. We were still more or less in two groups when we got to warren Road where I spotted Sherpa sitting on the side of the road waiting for us. I made a tactical error and slowed down to pick him up and Rocket, Hit man and D’Artagnon got away from me as I fell out of the draft. Soon Sherpa passed me on a TT bike and I found myself about 100 yards back with no way to close.
I continued on till Surgeon let me catch him and we took turns drafting till we made it to State Street were we watched Rocket and the guys disappear heading to the Golf course. It turns out the Sea Lion had to leave early so we lost him after he turned for home as we ended up regrouping on Thornton and Buena Vista. This was pretty much the last time the group was together because we lost Rocket on Stetson leaving five of us in the lead group and three following.

We lost D’Artagnon at Lake and Stetson and then we lost Surgeon on Fairview and Florida. Dura-max, Ruby Tuesday and T-3 decided to head for Bautista and that left 4 of us to make the run to Cranston. Sherpa made a great pull all the way passed the trees and we ended up in a sprint for Cranston. The ride back to Carl’s was fast with Sherpa pulling most of the way back to Fairview on the TT where he and Cossack broke off for home. Hit man and I made a quick coffee stop before heading for home.

I ended up with a bit more than 39 miles at a bit more than 17mph. Like I said we had three good cycling days and today simply made it 4 good days in a row. Hit man and I ended up riding back to the west side of town together with little or no trouble and I got home just in time for lunch. Like I said before, “another great day for a ride.” I am glad we live where we do.